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Friday, June 30, 2006Skywatch for July now posted!Skywatch, the monthly astrological forecast for July is now posted on my website. An excerpt: As July begins, the difficult patterns of the June cycles are behind us, but with five planets in retrograde motion (Jupiter, Chiron, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto), we are still looking backward to make sense of it all. When planets appear to move backward from our perspective here on earth, the issues associated with that planet become more pronounced and require greater attention. When Mercury turns retrograde on July 5, there will be six planets retrograde which is a rare event! Mercury retrograde periods come with their own challenges (see this article for more details), but with this number of retrograde planets we may feel somewhat stuck and find it difficult to move forward. read more...  Today I'm working on the July Skywatch article, so watch for that to be posted tomorrow as well. Meanwhile, I found this interesting article covering the attack of one galaxy by its neighbor that sounded eerily apropo of what is happening in the middle east, including this quote: When galaxies interact, it’s never a pretty picture. But it can be a source of rebirth and renewal. The tidal forces between galaxies cause huge clouds of gas and dust to compact, creating nurseries of giant, hot stars.... This is the lesson of Pluto and transformation if we can maintain a longer view when confronted with stress and tension. Thursday, June 29, 2006Astrology hits HGTVThanks to Astrococktail's news section for this tidbit: "What's Your Sign? Design," a show premiering at 9 p.m. Saturday, looks to the zodiac to bring harmony to star-crossed couples, roommates and homeowners. Hosted by Steven Lee, the show features interior designer Nicole Facciuto and astrologer Greg Tufaro, all Manhattanites, and who together will demonstrate that the solution to decorating dilemmas may lie in making your space more Aries than airy, adding pieces of Pisces or letting your inner Leo roar. This to me is great, because it sounds like the show will point out that real astrology is about so much more than sun signs. However, it appears that design using astrology is not universally effective: Indeed, Facciuto says most participants "really love" the results. "It's funny," she says, "because in the shows where someone didn't love it, it was either we completely missed the board -- you know, you can't win 'em all -- or one person liked it and the other didn't." Still, it's very exciting to see real astrologers casting real charts and demonstrating to millions of viewers what astrology really can do. As Facciuto, the designer said: ""I was skeptical. "But it's almost like astrology goes into your core and pulls out what you never even thought you knew you'd like." Wednesday, June 28, 2006The astrology of Israel and sudden violence in Gaza Last night Israeli forces stormed into southern Gaza, attacking three bridges and knocking out a power plant in an effort to force the release of an Israeli soldier who had been kidnapped by Palestinian militants. Ironically, yesterday Hamas and Fatah (the two Palestinian political factions) came to an agreement on a shared political platform which formally recognizes the State of Israel. It's doubtful, though, that last night's attack will secure the peace process. The astrological chart for Israel (from astrodatabank) shows the Sun in the fixed sign of Taurus in square (challenging aspect) to Mars (warfare and aggression) in Leo. In mundane astrology, the Sun represents the spirit of the nation, and Taurus is focused in security and peace. A fixed sign, Taurus can be stubborn like the Bull by which it is symbolized, and does not easily adapt to the ideas of others. The square of Mars to the Sun shows a combative nature, and Mars in the royal sign of Leo can be arrogant and prideful. Chiron forms a T-square to the Mars/Sun opposition: the Sun is opposed by Chiron (the wounded healer), indicating a persistent healing crisis in the life of the nation that will pressure it to continually align with the truth. In the individual, failure to make this alignment results in chronic disease, and the same can be said of countries. Chiron also makes a square to Mars, indicating that an imbalance of aggression and the failure to create healthy boundaries will lead to great pain. Four planets fall in Leo in the Israeli chart: Moon, Pluto, Saturn and Mars. Leo is the sign of self-oriented expression, and the Moon in Leo demands appreciation and recognition. Conjunct Pluto as it is in this chart, the Moon is constantly under pressure to prove its worth. The conjunction of Saturn and Pluto is a challenging one in any chart: Saturn strives for stability and practicality, it is the planet that inspires building something lasting. Pluto, on the other hand, demands authenticity and breaks down structures that are not for the highest good. The combination of these two planets generally requires a letting go of our own plans (Saturn) and a willingness to open up to the possibilities of transformation (Pluto). Resistance to this process leads to a constant crisis and breakdown of the structures we work hard to establish. Israel's beginning as a state was marked by constant conflict that mirrored this inner complex, and this latest conflict was stimulated by the passage of combative Mars over the Saturn/Pluto combination in the Israeli chart. Also present in the Israeli chart is the opposition between Uranus (radical ideas and change) to Jupiter (philosophy, meaning, expansion). Uranus is the idealist - the Utopian humanitarian where humans live together in brotherhood. However, Uranus ate his children, and has been known to destroy that which doesn't fit into his ideals. Jupiter is the philosopher, the ideologue, the creator of theology and shared ideals. When two planets are in challenging aspect to each other, like the opposition, we tend to see the more negative manifestations of these planets, resulting in a self-righteous (Jupiter) desire for Utopia and the willingness to break through and destroy any obstacles in its path. Currently Israel is undergoing transits to both the Leo planets and the Uranus/Jupiter opposition. Transiting Saturn began passing over the Moon in the chart of Israel last year and is moving into position to hit the Saturn/Pluto conjunction in the chart. The period of July and August will be extremely difficult for Israel as transiting Saturn applies pressure and restrictions on its ability to achieve its objectives. On a larger scale, transiting Pluto last year began a pass over the natal Jupiter/Uranus combination in the chart of Israel, planting the seeds of transformation that led to Israel's pullout from Gaza. Pluto is currently retrograding back over this sensitive point and will make a station (appear to stand still) right on the Uranus point of the chart, creating culture wars within Israel (probably resulting from increased military activity from Saturn). Pluto will remain at this point through early November, at which point it will move into position to conjunct Jupiter. This is a long-range planetary cycle that will continue throughout the end of next year. There is no doubt that we are in a cycle of global transformation and change that is leading up to the Uranus/Pluto square of 2010-2013. However, we cannot allow ourselve to sink into fear. FEAR can be explained as False Evidence Appearing Real, and we need to always step back and look at the bigger picture of what we are really doing here on planet Earth. As individuals we can make tremendous a difference in the world around us just by making small changes in ourselves and our own environment.  You can read this article on the National Ledger site (turn on your popup blocker!). I'm going to post today on the escalating violence in Israel instead. Tuesday, June 27, 2006Pluto retrograde: secrets stolen and revealed Art by Lynette HensleyPluto turned retrograde (appeared to move backward) at the end of March, and as it slowed down before changing direction (the "stationary retrograde period") the issue of secrecy regained prominence with the disclosure that the National Security Agency had been collecting the phone records of millions of Americans. Pluto, like his mythological namesake, rules the dark Underworld of secrecy and that which is hidden. In the journey of human evolution, Pluto's role is to expose anything from which we are hiding that keeps us from achieving our higher purpose. Pluto is also associated with issues of power, and the Bush administration, more than any other in recent history, has built their power structure on the need for secrecy. Even before September 11, VP Cheney allowed himself to be sued rather than reveal the identities of those on the task force which helped to shape the energy policy. When Jupiter entered Scorpio last year, the sign ruled by Pluto, Administration secrets began tumbling into public view beginning with the indictment of Cheney Aide Scooter Libby in the Valerie Plame investigation. Uranus, often called "the awakener," changed direction on June 19 leading to additional revelations by the New York Times of spying from the Bush Administration, this time on bank records of American citizens, leading to furious condemnations by the Republican spin machine. When the Washington press corps began reporting on leaked information this week about planning by US commanders in Iraq to begin withdrawing troops by September, the Administration comfortably discussed these national secrets publicly. But the revelation of the secret program to monitor banking transactions of private citizens drew down the wrath of the Administration and its spokespeople. Also under Uranus retrograde, the recent rash of stolen records affecting the privacy of millions of Americans reached epidemic proportions this week:
Perhaps in the Age of Aquarius we will recognise the presence of the Divine within us, rather than projecting it outward onto various superhuman gods and goddesses. Human beings will have to acknowledge themselves as the source of both good and evil, and of all the other possibilities on earth. Change depends upon individual free will, and the development of the individual capacity to make independent choices. The ‘new age’ will therefore come about not as a result of a preordained pattern but as a result of the ability of humanity to realise its full potential. Monday, June 26, 2006Astrology and Weather Predictions My husband's favorite TV channel is the Weather Channel. He loves to watch the changing patterns of the radar, and attempt to predict what the weather will be that day. In North Carolina, weather forecasts are notoriously inaccurate, and I always tell him I have a better chance of predicting the weather with a tarot card than he does with the Weather Channel. So I was very interested to see this article (turn your popup blocker on!!) about a new project in India by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) on using astrology to predict the weather. This project "will blend well-proven scientific meteorological data, backed by mathematical calculations, with astronomical data for weather prediction." Gayatri astronomy expert Devi Vasudev says, when the Sun traverses star Krittika [the star Alcyone/Eta Tauri in the Pleaiades system in the constellation of Taurus], the summer heat gets intensified as this star is associated with Sun, the fire god in Vedic texts. And this is precisely the time, when the mercury shoots up. The stars are ruled by natural elements and it is believed that movement of Sun and Saturn in conjunction imply that winter is ahead. Similarly, dry weather will prevail if Sun and Jupiter conjoin, while with Venus rainfall is round the corner, and so on. I love the fact that the governmental research centers are cooperating with astronomic data and astrologers in this study! Vedic astrology (which originated in India as opposed to our Western astrology which originated in Greece/Babylonia/Mesopotamia) is not the only branch of astrology that works with weather. Western astrologers such as Astrometerologists Carolyn Egan and Alphee Lavoie also look to the stars and planets to predict cycles of weather using a variety of techniques including casting charts for each New Moon and for the cardinal inegress point at the equinoxes and solstices. A preponderance of water planets and signs indicate humidity and rain; fire signs point to dry heat. Air signs signify a drying of the climate, and Earth signs tend to be cooler. The correlation of astrology with the material mundane world fascinates me to no end. I am looking forward to hearing of the results of this study! Sunday, June 25, 2006Aggression and Resistance Continues under Mars/Saturn/JupiterWe are currently experiencing the second phase of the Jupiter/Saturn cycle, an event which will conclude in September. Jupiter represents expansion, freedom, our search for meaning; Saturn rules conventional morality, social and governmental structures. Over the past week as reported below, Mars (warfare, aggression) joined with Saturn where it created irritations and challenged the established power structures. Because of the square between Jupiter and Saturn, Mars made a square to Jupiter as well. The aggression of Mars is expanded by Jupiter, and Mars in Leo is particularly expressive and dramatic. The operation of the system formed now by these planets can be symbolized in the middle east: the Hamas party in Gaza (Mars), creates warfare against the established power structure of the Israelis (Saturn) which is resisting the efforts of Hamas to assert its dominance in the region. Hamas receives inspiration and support from Iran (Jupiter) who goads Hamas into greater violence against the common enemy. Consequently Israel and its ally the US (Saturn) places greater restrictions on Iran (Jupiter). The combination of these three planets makes for a combustible mix. Of course Chiron (wounding and healing) is still within range of its dance with Saturn and therefore also opposing Mars over the past week; forcing to a head issues which may have been dormant. During this period North Korea came back into the picture, bringing with it fears of nuclear crisis and the activation of the US Missile Defense System. The change of direction last week of Uranus, ruling unexpected and sudden changes as well as radical and revolutionary thought, has brought with it an increase in radical expressions across the world.
We knew that June would be a stressful month, but we should see some respite over the next week until Mercury turns retrograde on July 4 and Mars moves into position to tango with Neptune.  The New Moon occurs in the emotional and family-oriented sign of Cancer at 12:05 pm EST, June 25. During the New Moon, the Sun and Moon (the solar conscious principle and the lunar unconscious principle) are conjunct in the sky in the same sign, both in Cancer. Mercury (communication and mental functioning) is still in the last degrees of Cancer as well, so Cancerian issues of nurturing, family roots and caring for others will be important now. New Moons are times of beginnings - the New Moon is the start of a new lunar cycle, and a great time to begin new projects, change a habit, set a goal. The energy at a new moon is fresh and new, and for millenia farmers have planted new crops at the New Moon. Planting your garden during the nurturing Cancer New Moon is particularly good for watering and for propagation of new plants by cutting and transplanting. Animals born during the Cancer New Moon are said to make good breding stock. In our personal lives, this is the time to hatch a new business, a new idea and a new plan for taking better care of ourselves. Cancer also rules our need for emotional security, and under this New Moon we may want to take a closer look at the way in which we seek security. Are we dependent upon physical things for security? Can we develop a stronger base of security within ourselves? Can we open ourselves to depend on those we love without becoming dependent? These are all issues of the Cancer New Moon. This New Moon makes no aspects to other planets except a wide trine to Jupiter, which will cast a smiling eye (Jupiter rules abundance and possibility) upon our endeavors. The Saturn/ Chiron/ Jupiter configuration is still in effect now so we may not instantly see the fruits of our projects. However, putting in the time (Saturn) and attention (Chiron) now, we will certainly reap the rewards (Jupiter). Friday, June 23, 2006Lindsay Lohan's Annus Horribilis Lindsey Lohan is an extremely gifted young actress; blessed with good looks, brains and talent she began modeling at the age of three. She acted in over 60 television commercials, and achieved early success at the age of twelve in a starring dual role in the film, The Parent Trap. However, over the past year Lindsey has become better known for her tabloid headlines than for her considerable acting skills and success. Lindsey was born under the sign of Cancer - symbolized by the crab, Cancerians are sensitive, emotional, and can be prickly. Lindsey's Sun is opposed by Neptune, the misty planet that represents creativity and spirituality but also the blurring of boundaries, showing her ability to slip in and out of acting roles but also a tendency to lose her sense of self (represented by the Sun). Lindsey's Moon (emotional security) is in Taurus (stability and pleasure), showing that she needs stability and material security in order to feel emotional secure, and it interacts harmoniously with her drive for success as shown by Mars (drive and boundaries) in Capricorn (hard work and success). Jupiter (where we find meaning in life) in Lindsey's chart is in sensitive and creative Pisces, giving her an added sensitivity and empathy to the needs of others. Lindsey's chart shows five planets in retrograde motion, meaning that at the time of her birth they were appearing to move backwards from our perspective on earth. This is relatively rare, and shows an individual whose attention is primarily turned inwards. Lindsey feels a great deal of empathy towards others, but she likely finds it difficult to make strong connections because of this inward facing dynamic. This may play a major role in her very public conflicts with others. In addition, Mercury (communication) in her chart is in Leo, showing a person with great confidence in her opinion, and it is in a stressful aspect with Pluto (compulsion and obsession). The Pluto/Mercury square at best shows an individual with a probing mind and great intelligence, but at its worst someone who can be cruel and ruthless in their speech. Lindsey first hit the tabloids in 2003 with her highly publicized fueled with fellow actress Hillary Duff over Aaron Carter. Over the past year she has been in the headlines feuding with Paris Hilton, Brandon Davis and most recently Sean Combs (aka P Diddy). Her father, who spent most of Lindsey's preteen years in prison for securities fraud, went back to prison for attempted assault. Also last year, Lindsey was involved in an auto collision in May while attempting to escape a photographer, and in October another collision left her shaking and upset. Last June she was hospitalized after a bout with bulimia that nearly killed her. Lindsey went through several major planetary event cycles last year involving Saturn and Neptune that challenged her sense of security (Saturn) and created confusion and illusion (Neptune). (For more information about these cycles, see Jeffrey Kishner's article on this topic.) In addition, Pluto (death of ego and transformation) completed its pass over a sensitive point in her chart and forcing her to deal with unresolved emotional wounds. This year she is being strongly affected by Chiron (healing), and she will begin to incorporate the lessons she has learned over the past few years. There is a saying "To whom much is given, much is expected" and this is certainly true of Lindsey Lohan. She has been through more at the age of 20 than most people by the time they turn 40, but I am certain that we will see great things from this young person. Thursday, June 22, 2006State of the President - June update cartoon from Dorking LabsThe astrology of a nation's leader influences the life of that nation, and in the case of a United States president the whole world is affected as well. You may find it useful to review this article from earlier in the year which also has a link to his astrological profile from 2003. Over the past couple of years Bush has been going through some very difficult planetary events: his second Saturn return, the pass of Saturn's restrictions and tests over his Midheaven (career point and public life) last year, and both Chiron and Saturn, in their dance together, applying stress to Bush's ascendant (the "rising sign," showing his life as an individual and in relationship to others) as well as his natal conjunction of Mercury (his thought process and ability to communicate) with Pluto (obsession and intensity). Bush has been tested by Saturn in virtually every area of his life over the past year - his poll numbers are dropping, his staff has disintegrated, his reputation worldwide is in the toilet. Saturn and Chiron have been in a dance of opposition since last fall, and last week was at its most exact point right on Bush's ascendant/Pluto/Mercury conjunction. Rumors are flying over stress in the presidential marriage (relationships of all kinds are influenced by transits over the ascendant), and he has been under pressure to let go of Don Rumsfeld, his long-time ally. Bush is loyal to a fault and does not like change in his staff but was forced (Saturn) to let go of long-time staff members to bring fresh blood into the White House. In February, Pluto began a relatively minor but intense (semisextile) transit over Bush's Saturn, creating an environment where his normal routines are disrupted and he finds it difficult to find his footing. The structures (Saturn) upon which he has depended are no longer reliable and he is forced to build new ones. This cycle will last throughout next year. In addition, transiting Jupiter (opportunity and possibilities) is square Pluto in Bush's chart, creating within him restless and impatience to move forward. At the same time, Pluto has been making a harmonious transit over his Midheaven that will complete this year. The midheaven is the "point of highest aspiration" - it shows the highest possible expression we can achieve in our life, and the way we express ourselves in the public arena. Typically this is done through our career; the midheaven shows our public persona. Pluto is the god of transformation, and in the harmonious transits it tends to facilitate transformation and change in a way that is exhilarating as well as deep. It's hard to say how this has manifested for Bush - lately he has been surprising both his supporters and his detractors by admitting mistakes over his failed Iraq policy and the Guantanamo prison. With Karl Rove having not been indicted in the Plamegate scandal he will be free to work on transforming (Pluto) Bush's image, and this could facilitate Bush's return to greater power. Not particularly what some of us would like to see, but Pluto is a powerful ally (as is Karl Rove). The infuence of Saturn in Bush's chart will soon be over, but Chiron (wounding and healing) will continue its pass over Bush's ascendant and first house planets (Mercury and Pluto in particular). It's hard to predict what form this will take, but it's quite possible that we will see Bush make a comeback if he continues to scale back on his cowboy image and exhibit the humility that we have seen lately. Wednesday, June 21, 2006Happy Birthday Cancer! Artwork from Bergsma.comThe Sun enters the water sign of Cancer (the crab) this morning, harkening the first day of summer. If you watch the way crabs move on the beach, you'll notice that they are cautious and sidle up to that which interests them, they never approach anything head on. They have a soft shell (the sensitive inner nature of the Cancerian individual) which in later life can turn hard as a protective device, just like the soft shell of the crab that later in the season becomes hard and impermeable. Unlike the more vulnerable Pisces, you will rarely see the vulnerability in your Cancer friend but be assured that it is there. That hard crusty shell hides a soft and sensitive individual who is very easily hurt. Ruled by the Moon and its changing phases, those born under the sign of Cancer or with Cancer rising in their charts may have a tendency to be a bit moody or cranky (which may be how the term "crabby" came to be!). Cancers are nurturing, and being a cardinal (or active) sign, their nurturing comes through action. Your Cancer friend will be the first one to bring you soup when you are sick, or to find just the right gift on your birthday. They tend to be family oriented and fascinated by geneaology and history, particularly the history of their "tribe". Cancer is the sign of the mother archetype, the womb and emotional security. Cancer individuals seek emotional stability and safety above all things. Like a mother Lion, Cancers are fiercely protective of those they love and exhibit a strong empathy to those they care about. Because their extreme sensitivity is hidden, a Cancerian individual may react to a real or imagined slight by turning a cold shoulder to the offender, who may never know why the sudden change occurred. This can result in misunderstandings and long-standing enmities that may be confusing to others. Cancers need an environment in which they feel safe so that they can come to terms with their vulnerability and develop healthy boundaries rather than the hard shell of loneliness. Cancers have a tendency to look backwards, like the crab (hence their love of history), and they may therefore miss the opportunities that are available to them in the present moment. Because Cancer is ruled by the Moon and the mother archetype, the mother/child relationship will play a major role in their development. Cancers are born with an especially deep hunger for the nurturing of the Mother, but this hunger is within them and therefore cannot be satisfied by ordinary human relationships. The drive of Cancer to nurture others carries with it both a need for reciprocal caring and a fear that the nurturing they need will not occur. The Cancer individual will find their guardian angels smiling when they allow themselves to be vulnerable with those they love so that the cycle of caring can be completed. Tuesday, June 20, 2006Summer Solstice and the Nodal Shift The Summer Solstice, the time of the longest day, will occur in the northern hemisphere on June 21 at 7:26 am EST (according to the US Naval Observatory) when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky. By current convention, the Summer Solstice marks the first day of summer in many parts of the world, particularly the US, but this was not always true. In the US, the first day of summer was celebrated on June 7 for many years, and parts of Ireland still celebrate the first day of summer at May Day. The summer solstice in many ancient cultures was celebrated as "Midsummer" instead. In any event, the Summer and Winter Solstices mark magical points in the turn of the wheel of the year for many cultures. Religious Tolerance.org gives us a listing of midsummer celebrations in various cultures:
In the chart of an individual, the nodes of the Moon represent our evolutionary direction; the South Node shows that which is familiar and may hold us back, while the North Node shows the untapped potential that offers us a path to succeed in our highest aspirations (usually identified by the Midheaven). I have not spent much time observing the effect of Node shifts between signs, but I did notice that the shift of the nodal axis from North Node Taurus/South Node Scorpio into Aries/Libra marked the Tsunami in Indonesia. Interesting, the tsunami brought the world together in unprecedented numbers to help the people in Indonesia. Aries represents the individual and Libra the partnership, and the Tsunami event certainly brought many people out of their comfortable individual (Aries) lives and into partnership with others to bring aid. The last shift of the North Node from Aries into Pisces occurred in early December of 1987, shortly following the crash of the stock market and the Iran Contra scandal. You may remember the film "Wall Street" which highlighted the greed and desire for acquisition that marked the 1980s. We could say that the past two years, with its low interest rates and booming real estate market, has mirrored the booming stock market of the 1980s when the Node was last in Aries. The 1987 crash moved us as a global society from the self-oriented Aries Node into the Pisces need to find something of meaning beyond the material world. All signs are pointing to a downturn in the stock market, and there are multiple scandals going on in our government that mirror the period before the Nodes last shifted to Pisces/Virgo. It's the nature of the human condition that we do not readily make needed changes without some force being applied from outside of us. When we learn to move with the flow of the planets, change and transformation comes more easily and with exhilaration instead of fear. The beauty of astrology is that it helps to give us a framework within which we can observe the ebb and flow of the tides and understand their meaning, so that we can work with those tides and reach our destination. Monday, June 19, 2006What's Your (Southern) Sign? Here in the American South we have our own set of symbology: OKRA (Dec 22 - Jan 20) Although you appear crude, you are actually very slick on the inside. Okras have tremendous influence. An older Okra can look back over his life and see the seeds of his influence everywhere. Stay away from Moon Pies. CHITLIN (Jan 21 - Feb 19) Chitlins come from humble backgrounds. A chitlin, however, can make something of himself if he's motivated and has lots of seasoning. In dealing with Chitlins, be careful. They can erupt like Vesuvius. Chitlins are best with Catfish and Okra. BOLL WEEVIL (Feb 20 - Mar 20) You have an overwhelming curiosity. You're unsatisfied with the surface of things, and you feel the need to bore deep into the interior of everything. Needless to say, you are very intense and driven as if you had some inner hunger. Nobody in their right mind is going to marry you, so don't worry about it. MOON PIE (Mar 21 - Apr 20) You're the type that spends a lot of time on the front porch. It's a cinch to recognize the physical appearance of Moon Pies. Big and round are the key words here. You should marry anybody who you can get remotely interested in the idea. It's not going to be easy. This might be the year to think about aerobics. Or - maybe not. POSSUM (Apr 21 - May 21) When confronted with life's difficulties, possums have a marked tendency to withdraw and develop a don't-bother-me-about-it attitude. Sometimes you become so withdrawn, people actually think you're dead. This strategy is probably not psychologically healthy, but seems to work for you. One day, however, it won't work and you may find your problems actually running you over. CRAWFISH (May 22 - June 21) Crawfish is a water sign. If you work in an office, you're always hanging around the water cooler. Crawfish prefer the beach to the mountains, the pool to the golf course, the bathtub to the living room. You tend to be not particularly attractive physically, but you have very, very good heads. COLLARDS (June 22 - July 23) Collards have a genius for communication. They love to get in the "melting pot" of life and share their essence with the essence of those round them. Collards make good social workers, psychologists, and baseball managers. As far as your personal life goes, if you are Collards, stay away from Moon Pies. It just won't work. Save yourself a lot of heartache. CATFISH (July 24 - Aug 23) Catfish are traditionalists in matters of the heart, although one whiskers may cause problems for loved ones. You catfish are never easy people to understand. You prefer the muddy bottoms to the clear surface of life. Above all else, Catfish should stay away from Moon Pies. GRITS (Aug 24 - Sept 23) Your highest aim is to be with others like yourself. You like to huddle together with a big crowd of other Grits. You love to travel though, so maybe you should think about joining a club. Where do you like to go? Anywhere they have cheese or gravy or bacon or butter or eggs. If you can go somewhere where they have all these things, that serves you well. BOILED PEANUTS (Sept 24 - Oct 23) You have a passionate desire to help your fellow man. Unfortunately, those who know you best - your friends and loved ones - may find that your personality is much too salty, and their criticism will probably affect you deeply because you are really much softer than you appear. You should go right ahead and marry anybody you want to because in a certain way, yours is a charmed life. On the road of life, you can be sure that people will always pull over and stop for you. BUTTER BEAN (Oct 24 - Nov 22) Always invite a Butter Bean because Butter Beans get along well with everybody. You, as a Butter Bean, should be proud. You've grown on the vine of life and you feel at home no matter what the setting. You can sit next to anybody. However, you, too, shouldn't have anything to do with Moon Pies. ARMADILLO (Nov 23 - Dec 21) You have a tendency to develop a tough exterior, but you are actually quite gentle. A good evening for you? Old friends, a fire, some roots, fruit, worms and insects. You are a throwback. You're not concerned with today's fashions and trends. You're not concerned with anything about today. You're really almost prehistoric in your interests and behavior patterns. You probably want to marry another Armadillo, but Possum is another somewhat kinky, mating possibility. Sunday, June 18, 2006Paul McCartney at 64: Another transformation on the Galactic Center Paul McCartney famously turns 64 today, encouraging reminiscences of the early Beatles and their song from nearly 40 years ago that wondered, "Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64." After nearly a lifetime with his first wife Linda, Sir Paul recently separated from his second wife and is about to go through a very public divorce and probably nasty property settlement. It would not be too much to say that McCartney is one of the major cultural icons of a generation. Although John Lennon, as the revolutionary face of the Beatles, received more media attention for his more outrageous exploits, Paul McCartney was the stabilizing force, the family man who loved nothing more than staying at home with his (first) wife and children, eating home cooked organic food and washing the dishes afterwards. Paul McCartney's mother died when he was 14, which we see in his birthchart in the Moon in Leo (craving attention and self-expression) wedged between Chiron (creating pain to accelerate the healing process) and Pluto (death and transformation). The loss of Linda McCartney must have opened up those old wounds in a devastating way, and a short time later he married the controversial Heather Mills (more on her in a later column). Paul's Sun (view chart) is in Gemini at 26 degrees, exactly opposite the Galactic Center which is at 26 degrees Sagittarius. His Sun also squares Neptune at 27 degrees, indicating his strong sense of spirituality and creativity. Because the square aspect can bring out the more negative qualities of both planets, the Sun square Neptune can evoke an individual who is extremely creative but may be prone to fantasy and escapism. Neptune blurs the Sun's ability to forge a strong individual identity, but this blurring of boundaries is the very thing that opens the door to creative channeling of the artistic impulse. Astrologers are still exploring the meaning of the Galactic Center, but some have theorized that individuals who have personal planets that aspect this point exactly have a significant role to play in the evolution of human culture and society. Earlier in this column we explored the fact that Brad Pitt and Katie Holmes, also in the news undergoing significant changes, have Suns that aspect the G.C. The fact that Sir Paul's Sun is exactly square to the G.C. may help to explain his phenomenal effect on the evolution of music and culture in the 1960s that changed the direction of human life forever. Beginning in February of this year transiting Pluto began affecting Sir Paul's chart intensely, setting off the dynamic with Neptune. (Geeky astrological details: Transiting Pluto first hit the opposition to Paul's Sun in February '06, making a retrograde station in May, coinciding with the announcement of his separation from Heather Mills. Pluto will hit his Sun again in December and reach the point of his Neptune in January of '07, with a direct station on the Sun/Neptune point between July and November of '07.) When Pluto in the sky moves over a planet in our birthchart, we experience a transformation of some kind. The challenging aspects (the 90 degree and 180 degree angles), which is what Sir Paul is undergiong right now, bring about intense periods of letting go of things or people. Often in Pluto transits we feel that the very ground underneath us is shifting and we cannot find our footing. However, the end result is usually a feeling of exhilaration as we find ourselves having shed an old skin that we didn't really need. Last year, transiting Saturn (challenge and hard work and Chiron (wounding and healing) began a pass over Paul's Leo planets (Mars, Pluto, Moon and Chiron all within 10 degrees), no doubt creating enormous stress in his marriage as it opened up the old wounds from the deaths of both his mother and his first wife (the Moon represents relationships with women as well as emotional stability). This dynamic is difficult, but also the potential of enormous rewards. Sir Paul is a hard worker, and this could be a period where his creativity is unleashed by these difficult planetary events and Saturn offers the opportunity to work hard and gain success. He has been closely involved in the planning of a huge Cirque du Soleil event called "Love" that features songs and soundbites from the Beatles huge catalog. In the process, Over the next few years he will be going through a period of intense change and transformation, and it will be interesting to see what effects his life continues to have on the rest of the world. Friday, June 16, 2006Uranus prepares to retrograde "Horses Rearing Under Lightning & Stars," by Jim Zuckerman.from Corbis. Uranus is the revolutionary; it tends to foster rebellion and strives for equality. Revolutionary fervor is high this month as Uranus applies pressure for a New Order to be created. The planet is tipped on its side, making it different than any other planet, and astrologically Uranus liberates us from the shackles of convention. It tends to instigate change, and we are certain to experience sudden shifts of direction. Astrologically, Uranus applies pressure on us to change wherever we have become stagnant. Uranus rules electromagnetic energy and is like a lightning storm that creates chaos as it cleans the air, revealing a fresh new world once the storm has cleared. When planets appear to turn retrograde they seem to be moving backwards from our perspective on earth, and we tend to experience their influence on a more internal level. Before they appear to turn retrograde, their motion appears to slow down to a crawl, just as a car does as it prepares to make a U-turn on the highway. Uranus has been stationary all month as it prepares to turn retrograde on Monday June 19, tying in with the other significant planetary events that are occurring right now. Several astrological dynamics come to a head this month, and the shift of Uranus to a retrograde direction will assist in the transitions that arise from the difficult Mars/Saturn/Jupiter/Chiron system that is culminating now. Uranus is currently traveling through Pisces, ruling the life of the spirit. In Pisces we deal with transcending material reality and delving into the unconscious realm. Uranus in Pisces can create disturbances on a mental level as it shakes up (Uranus) areas of the unconscious that need awakening. This is particularly true for individuals who tend to have a more rigid nature - resisting the Uranian influence of change can increase the wattage applied by Uranus to force change to occur. The Uranian "station" (where the planet has slowed down to a crawl prior to changing direction) forces us to notice it, it acts as if someone was standing outside your window bellowing at the top of his lungs. Because of the electromagnetic nature of Uranus, we may even find ourselves experiencing anxiety or other nervous disorders as our nervous system is overtaken by a shift in frequency. Physical activity will help to ground you during this time and cool the heat of the Uranian influence so that you can take advantage of the energy for change that is available now. You will find it much easier to manage Uranus if you watch for areas where you are feeling stuck, and make a conscious effort to let go where change needs to take place. During the retrograde phase we often undergo the preparation for change which often waits until Uranus turns direct to manifest totally. When Uranus retrogrades, there will be five planets in retrograde motion (including Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto and Chiron). This is relatively rare, occuring on an average of only fifteen days out of the year. When Mercury turns retrograde on July 3 there will be six planets retrograde, a very rare event that occurs only fifty-one days out of one hundred years. The combination of this heavy retrograde period with the other planetary events of the year and the conjunction of Pluto with the Galactic Center (of which we are still exploring the meaning) speaks to significant planetary evolution now. It's important not to fear this powerful time period, because ultimately nature strives for healing and transformation, and when we can let go to the Uranian process we will find ourselves moving into a new and dynamic level of human existence. If you find yourself experiencing mental distress at this time, here are some things that will help:
All in all, this is an exciting time to be a human on planet earth. Life is changing in ways our ancestors could not have imagined, but understanding the process is becoming more and more crucial to our ability to successfully omve into the future. Thursday, June 15, 2006Quotes on Science and Psychological Astrology These quotes are from a very interesting, but fairly technical, article by Douglas Boyd entitled "Inner-active Psychological Astrology" (courtesy of the Starcats site). "Only after I had familiarized myself with alchemy did I realize that the unconscious is a process, and that the psyche is transformed or developed by the relationship of the ego to the contents of the unconscious." C. G. Jung; Memories, Dreams, Reflections: P. 209. "Mathematics has been and will continue to be the qualitative language of science, but astrology will become the qualitative language of the human condition." -- William Tiller - Professor of Physics, Stanford University "Sooner or later nuclear physics and the psychology of the unconscious will draw closer together as both of them, independently of one another and from opposite directions, push forward into transcendental territory, the one with the concept of the atom, the other with that of the archetype." -- C G Jung; Aion (1951). CW 9: Part II: P. 412 "That we can now think of no mechanism for astrology is relevant but unconvincing. No mechanism was known , for example for continental drift when it was proposed by Wegener. Nevertheless, we see that Wegener was right and those who objected on the grounds of unavailable mechanism were wrong." -- Carl Sagan "In Jungian psychology there is a clear appreciation that great transformative wisdom resides in the inner world of our dreams, fantasies, and feelings. However, synchronicity shows, that occasionally, this wisdom, this transforming meaning, expresses itself in the inner and outer worlds simultaneously. Appreciating this re-enchants and divinizes the world. From an astrological perspective, we might say that wisdom continuously speaks to us through planetary motions." -- Victor Mansfield; Physics and Astronomy Department, Colgate University What is most remarkable and philosophically significant about astrology is that its symbolism is grounded in a time/space map and not simply projected upon the physical world.... we need presume that 'reality' is multileveled beyond the simple sensory/empirical level. The symbol is our way of understanding something which is ineffable, yet something 'real' which lies beyond us and is beckoning us 'forward' (or 'higher' or 'deeper' depending upon our preferred metaphor). These symbols appear to 'work' by general agreement, hence astrology becomes a technology of self knowledge and transformation, a direct participatory and largely dialogical process."-- Richard Tarnas Ph D--"The Passion of the Western Mind" "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you." Jesus Christ; Taken from the Gnostic Gospels uncovered at Nag Hammadi. Wednesday, June 14, 2006Mars/Saturn/Pluto joined by the SunBarbara Palliser has a great post today explaining the rising energy of the big planetary configurations in June: "Can you feel that energy building? There's a focusing of awareness, a sharpening of attention. It's like the moments before the curtain rises on a play, when the energy is concentrated and intense, heavy with anticipation and expectation. " read more here...  "Storm on Jupiter" by Regina van der Poel Nasa reports that two of the biggest storms of the solar system are getting ready to converge as they pass by each other. Scientists speculate that these storms will affect each other to the point where the atmosphere on Jupiter could be changed. Storms are always present on Jupiter, but the convergence of these two major storms is evidently a major astronomical event. Astrologers tend to look for synchronicity everywhere, but it's a strange coincidence that the convergence of these storms syncronistically ties in with the second square of this year's Jupiter/Saturn square cycle that is creating an adjustment in the way we think about limits (Saturn) and possibilities (Jupiter), governments (Saturn) and belief (Jupiter). Jupiter will also be exactly square Chiron at this time (see articles below), expanding (Jupiter) the sense of pain that we feel when our purpose is not aligned with our identification of that which is true. It appears that symbolically, Jupiter is making itself known and taking center stage in the solar system right now as the planetary storms coincide with the philosophical storms that are taking place here on Earth. Astrologically, Jupiter represents our innate sense of faith and our search for meaning in life, as well as the way in which we pursue that search (hence the association with religion and philosophy). There is quite a behemoth of a storm going on right here on Earth regarding religion, philosophy and the meaning of life, and it will be interesting to see whether the Jupiterian storms have any noticeable effect on the unfolding evolution of human belief. (Thanks to Astrococktail for the link to the NASA article.) Tuesday, June 13, 2006Karl Rove escapes indictment!Astrologers all over the country are scratching their heads today because Karl Rove has escaped indictment. Capitol Hill Blue says,
Rove's chart has an unaspected Mars, the source no doubt of his renegade behavior. This Mars is currently being aspected by the Saturn/Chiron opposition of which you will read quite a bit in this column, and Mars in his chart is currently being opposed (180 degrees) by transiting Mars as it conjuncts Saturn. Many astrologers read this as indicating indictment as Saturn enforces restrictions on Rove's personal will as represented by Mars. However, Jupiter is also involved in this configuration and Jupiter is known as the "Great Liberator." One news headline today read "The Liberation of Karl Rove," and perhaps it is the Jupiter influence on his chart that we are seeing with the end of speculation on his indictment. Karl Rove is a brilliant strategist, and just because there is not enough evidence to indict him doesn't mean that he is no longer under suspicion. Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame are considering a civil suit against Rove. With Neptune having turned retrograde and Uranus following next week, I believe we have not seen the last of this situation.  Because of Chiron's unusual orbit, it often hooks up with one planet with which it dances over a long period of time. Between 1952 (before Chiron's discovery in 1977) and 1986, Chiron opposed Uranus a total of 41 times. The Chiron/Uranus opposition is a strong significator in the birthchart of an individual who is becoming awakened (Uranus) to the power of transformation that results from facing the painful psychic wounds (Chiron) from which we attempt to hide. Chiron is associated with the healing of the body through achieving spiritual wholeness, and during the awakening period of the Chiron/Uranus opposition, and particularly after the discovery of Chiron in 1977, the concept of "holistic healing" and the body-mind connection was revived after centuries of taking the back burner to "science." The current cycle of Chiron's opposition to Saturn which concludes this month has occurred a total of 27 times, making this another key significator. The current phase of the dance began in September of 2003 and concludes this month. To fully understand the way Chiron works astrologically, it's useful to go back to his roots in mythology and legend. In mythology, Chiron was born of Philyra, mortal woman, and Saturn, immortal god. In order to escape Saturn's amorous pursuit, Philyra had herself turned into a mare; however, Saturn outsmarted her and shapeshifted into a horse in order to accomplish his intention to rape her. When Chiron was born half horse and half man, like a Centaur, Philyra was so ashamed she abandoned him in a cave, thus establishing the deep psychic wound for which Chiron is well-known. Being one-half god, Chiron was immortal and thus survived this early abandonment. He went on to study with the god Apollo, who some say became his foster father. There Chiron learned the arts of music and homeopathic healing, as well as skills such as archery, hunting, and the art of warmaking. He was wounded when a poison arrow struck him in the leg. Because he was partly immortal, the wound did not kill him but kept him in pain for the rest of his life. He achieved death by trading places with Prometheus, who had been bound to a rock by Zeus in punishment for mocking him. In allowing himself to be bound to the rock, Chiron released his immortality and was able to find peace through death. (more on Chiron here.) Because Chiron is actually the son of Saturn, the opposition between them brings up issues of paternalization and self-doubt. Despite the fact that Chiron is Saturn's son, Saturn has no contact with him and he grows up without a sense of identification even though his affiliation with Apollo, the Sun God, offers him a beautiful life of music and learning. In the astrological opposition, Saturn forces a confrontation and we tend to see a resurgence of father issues, both personally and globally. This confrontation is clearly seen in the dynamic between the paternal United States and the rebellious Islamist fundamentalists and Iranian state, a dynamic that has significantly worsened since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. On a more personal level we are likely to experience our own wounds of abandonment and inadequacy in a more direct way as Saturn applies pressure on us to face any areas of our life where we have avoided dealing with these issues. For some of us this may have resulted in disease to the body as Chiron attempts to bring deep-seated emotional and spiritual issues to the conscious level so that they can become integrated and transmuted. The more we allow Saturn to act as our teacher, doing the work that is required to illuminate our own darkness, we will be more fully able to reclaim those parts of ourselves that have become lost, becoming more energized and more fully awake to life's possibilities. Monday, June 12, 2006Marsilio Ficino and the Influence of Saturn Woodcut from Adam McLean's Alchemy site With the final hit of the opposition between Saturn and Chiron approaching, I thought it would useful to delve more deeply into these two planets over the next few days, beginning with the work of Marsilio Ficino on Saturn. Marsilio Ficino was a philosopher of the Renaissance, and quite probably the first transformational astrologer. Unlike the other astrologers of his time and those who came before him, he used astrology as a tool to transcend the difficulties of the birthchart. Born with Saturn on his ascendant, he was afflicted with the melancholia that is associated with that planet (Saturn was termed the "greater malefic" and thought to be the devil). Medieval and Hellenstic astrologers tended to be fatalistic - they believed that the horoscope predicted the future and that man was bound by the stars. Ficino was one of the first to explore the concept that through natural magic and astrology, humans could transcend the fate of their chart by influencing the planets that affected them. The excellent astrologer and essayist Angela Voss quotes Ficino: "These celestial bodies are not to be sought by us outside in some other place; for the heavens in their entirety are within us, in whom the light of life and the origin of heaven dwell... if you temper within yourself the heavenly signs and the heavenly gifts, you will flee far from all the menaces of the fates and without doubt will live a blessed life under divine auspices." Erin Sullivan says in her excellent book Saturn in Transit, ""[Ficino] virtually embodied Saturn and became in sympathy with it. . . . Ficino put the soul back into astrology, brought it to life, introducing planetary symbolism to represent all matter, incorporating the psyche, the physical and the metaphysical into an organic whole. His psychological world-view transformed the approach to planets; as gods, they all had gifts to bear, including Saturn." (For more on this concept of the planets as gods that bear gifts and burdens, see my article on transits and transformation.) Sullivan quotes Ficino on Saturn: "These celestial bodies are not to be sought by us outside in some Saturn's purpose is to challenge the aggrandisement of the ego - following the expansion of Jupiter, Saturn imposes restrictions and constricts our impulse to want to fly with the gods. Saturn brings us back to earth, where we must deal with the mundane, day-to-day worldly existence. It enforces solitude and forces us into contemplation in order to increase the depth of our wisdom and insight. In order to accomplish this, it often thwarts our own desires, frustrating us with its limitations, rules and boundaries and forcing us into a more introspective existence. That is particularly true now, as Saturn travels through the sign of Leo which rules the Ego and its creative expression. Saturn's role is to force us to confront anything in the realm of ego that lacks truth. He shines a light in the darkness, instigating experiences that may not be comfortable but which are always pathways for growth and transformation. (For more on Marsilio Ficino's views on astrology and magic, I highly recommend Thomas More's book THE PLANETS WITHIN, The Astrological Psychology of Marsilio Ficino. ) Sunday, June 11, 2006The Full Moon and the USJude at Stars Over Washington has another view of the Full. Moon as it relates to the current US events, pointing out a kite formation tied to a (wide) Grand Trine. This formation is a little wider than I would normally pay attention to, with Jupiter retrograding at 9 degrees and therefore moving away from the trine of Mercury to Uranus at 13 and 14 degrees. But in any event, it's an interesting read: For today's Full Moon--the culmination phase which was begun at the New Moon of May 27 ("6Gem" = "drilling for oil") you see that Venus 15Tau30 ("15Tau" = the Oxen Point of the 8.11.99 "King of Terror" eclipse), has joined this Water Grand Trine to form what some call a KITE formation.  from The Prophet And a man said, "Speak to us of Self-Knowledge." And he answered, saying: Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights. But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge. You would know in words that which you have always know in thought. You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams. And it is well you should. The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea; And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes. But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure; And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line. For self is a sea, boundless and measureless. Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth." Say not, "I have found the path of the soul." Say rather, "I have met the soul walking upon my path." For the soul walks upon all paths. The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed. The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals. Saturday, June 10, 2006Full Moon and other Planetary NewsThe Moon will be full in Sagittarius tomorrow, June 11, at 2:03 pm EST. Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, is optimistic, adventurous, and driven to find meaning in life. For that reason it rules religion and theology, and with the Moon full in this buoyant sign the question of what truly holds meaning for us will predominate. This Full Moon is within 5 degrees of a conjunction to Pluto and the Galactic Center, and while I am still exploring the meaning of the GC the conjunction of Pluto to the Full Moon lends power to the lunation. During the Full Moon, the lunar instinctive/unconscious principle dominates the solar conscious principle, making this a good period for inner exploration. Emotions typically run high during Full Moon periods, although in Sagittarius we are more likely to see a surge of bright energy, especially in the conjunction with Pluto. Pluto is the planet of power, of transformation, of death and rebirth. Curiously, the optimistic and expansive planet Jupiter is often found transiting through the charts of people when they die, indicating a type of liberation and perhaps an opportunity to conclude their business on Earth. This Full Moon, with both the Jupiter/Sag and Pluto influence, signifies a liberation from that which no longer serves us and an opportunity to become transformed (Pluto) into a more truly authentic individual. The significance of the Galactic Center is still a mystery, but one thing that I am hearing over and over is that people now, as we approach the conjunction of Pluto to the GC at 26 deg Sagittarius, are feeling a pull to go deeper (GC) into their own lives and find a truer meaning (Sag). This Full Moon will illuminate the pathway to the core of our own lives, offering an opportunity to expand into a brilliant new universe of light within ourselves. As each individual becomes more aligned with their inner divinity, the world around us becomes changed as a result. This can assist us in dealing with the tension that will result from the T-square between the conjunction of Mars and Saturn in Leo that opposes Chiron in Aquarius and the square of Jupiter to the three other planets. This configutation will align exactly on June 17, but we will be feeling its effects for most of the month of June. A T-square, with its squares and oppositions (all challenging aspects) creates a high degree of tension that can be uncomfortable, but it does result in an explosion of energy that motivates change in a powerful way. As we have seen with the Chiron/Saturn opposition over the past six months or so, long simmering issues that require healing (Chiron) are forced into the public consciousness where they must be dealt with (Saturn). Mercury (communication) makes a trine (harmonious aspect) to Uranus (new ideas) on June 12, providing a conduit for insight and revelations to assist us in navigating the choppy waters. In addition, Mercury and Venus will be within 2 degrees of a sextile formation during the second and third week of June. This will facilitate communication as Venus puts us in touch with our feelings of love and fosters a desire for harmony that will greatly assist in dealing with the challenges that come before us during this period. From June 12 through the 16th or so, a square of Venus to ethereal Neptune will add a touch of creativity, but because the square is a challenging aspect we may find ourselves prone to Neptune's tendency towards fantasy. All three outer planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) are stationary right now (Uranus is preparing to turn retrograde on June 19, Neptune and Pluto turned retrograde in May and still moving very slowly). As a planet prepares to change direction (as viewed by us from Planet Earth), it appears to slow down and almost come to a halt. I like to describe this as being similar to a car with a loud boombox that parks right in front of your house, rattling the windows with its booming bass. It definitely gets your attention!! The outer planets call us to transcend and expand our view and perspective, to liberate ourselves (Uranus) from that which is stale, to dissolve the boundaries of the material world (Neptune) and discover that which is more real than ordinary reality, and to surrender (Pluto) to the alchemy of spiritual transformation. What a powerful time we are living in! Friday, June 09, 2006Ann Coulter's Poisonous Rage My sister has a wonderful expression: resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. If Ann Coulter, conservative right wing so-called pundit, absorbs even a fraction of the poison she spews out, I fear for her health. Coulter has long been considered the bitch goddess of the right. Six feet tall, with long bleached blonde hair and even longer legs, she refers to herself as a polemicist and has frankly admitted her love of "stirring the pot." She was fired from USA Today in 2004 for an article on the Democratic convention, "Here at the Spawn of Satan convention in Boston", and referred to some (unspecified) female attendees as "corn-fed, no make-up, natural fiber, no-bra needing, sandal-wearing, hirsute, somewhat fragrant hippie chick pie wagons." And that was before she became really nasty. Now she is on talk shows promoting her new book Godless: the Church of Liberalism, and at first even her supporters are calling her hysterical and unhinged. On the Today show, she described the 9/11 widows, These broads are millionaires, lionized on TV and in articles about them, reveling in their status as celebrities and stalked by grief-arazzis. I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' death so much. These self-obsessed women seem genuinely unaware that 9-11 was an attack on our nation and acted as if the terrorist attack only happened to them. They believe the entire country was required to marinate in their exquisite personal agony. Apparently, denouncing Bush was part of the closure process.After the initial shock of her words, her supporters are slowly coming out to defend her, saying basically that she has the nerve to say what others fear to. With Ann back in the news, I took a look at her chart to see what motivates her to be so nasty. A birthchart does not create a mean person, and someone else born the same date and time as Ann would handle things differently. But there are some clues in her birthchart that are interesting. Because we don't have her birthtime we can't set up the ascendant and house structure (the chart linked is a noon chart). But the chart shows a "bundle" formation, which has all of the planets in one half of the chart, showing a person who lacks perspective. Because of Coulter's hunger for notoriety, my guess is that the planets are at the top half (or hemisphere) of the chart, indicating an individual who is primarily concerned with matters external to oneself rather than introspection. Ann is a Sagittarius Sun, with Mars, Mercury and Venus all in Sagittarius and very likely her Moon as well. That is a strong stellium in one sign and dominates her chart. Sagittarius (ruled by Jupiter) at its best is visionary, adventurous, bold and optimistic. At its worst, it is judgemental, self-righteous, with a tendency toward self-aggrandisement. Jupiter after all was the King of the Gods, and has never really forgotten it. Sagittarius has an eye for opportunity and has the fiery nature to pursue it. There is a strong need for self-importance, and Sagittarius can be a bit of a groupie, always seeking the "best" people to associate with. The shadow side of Sagittarius results from fear. According to writer Liz Greene, "The Sagittarius is often frightened of making any commitment to the tangible world, because then he'd have to face not only the limitations of form but also the fact that his potential genius might not be quite so boundless and cosmic as he thinks it is." With five planets in Sag, Coulter's nature is dominated by this force. I suspect too that she is caught up in the wave of fame to the point of addiction, and is terrified of falling from Mt. Olympus and becoming mortal again. Because her fame is based upon her ability to shock, as we become more and more desensitized to her words she must drop even bigger bombshells. Coulter has Mars conjunct the Sun, which is an extremely independent placement but also gives her an Arien quality since Mars, god of war, is the ruler of Aries. A woman with a strong Mars becomes the warrior princess, an Amazon who often relishes her powers of intimidation. In addition, her chart lacks the water element other than Neptune in Scorpio, which is a generational planet and doesn't provide a conduit for her emotions to flow through. Individuals whose charts are short on water are not always unemotional, but with this much fire and Jupiter in Aquarius, it is safe to say that Coulter lacks the ability to empathize with others. If Coulter's Moon (emotional nature) is not in fiery Sag, it will be in Capricorn which would drive her to achieve something significant in the world. Either way, this is not an individual who puts much value on emotions. Pluto, god of death and rebirth, makes a square (challenging) aspect to all four Sagittarius planets (Mars, Sun, Mercury and Venus). This adds a tremendous amount of potential for fear to the chart, as Pluto demands continuous transformation of the individual. If ignored, this type of fear is sometimes channeled into a demand for power and a cruel nature. Pluto in square to Mercury is famous for cruel speech, and Pluto in square to Mars is a signature for a deep and boiling rage which needs to be expressed constructively or it converts to the kind of vitriol we see with Ann Coulter's writings. Saturn in Ann's chart makes no other aspects to any other planet in her chart (we call this "unaspected"). Saturn is a solitary planet - it is serious and concerned with earthly and practical matters. When unaspected in the chart, it tends to show a person who stands alone, who may be unable to connect with others. It appears that Ann Coulter, with this intensity in her chart and no inner perspective, has chosen to manage these issues by basically vomiting them into the public arena, and the divisive political climate over the past ten years has been only too glad to swallow it. (Please excuse this disgusting reference!) This will only work for her as long as she gets the fame she craves; when her publicity star has stopped shining the real work for her will have to begin or the fear and rage within her will eat her up alive. Thursday, June 08, 2006Mars/Saturn/Chiron and the Death of Al-ZarqawiAbu Musab Al-Zarqawi, self-proclaimed head of Al Qaeda in Iraq, was killed today in an air strike jointly conducted by Iraqi and US forces. Al-Zarqawi was born in Jordan and was one of the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan that with Osama bin Laden drove out the Soviets in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was connected with Ansar al-Islam, a militant base connected with Al Qaeda that was the tenuous thread justifying the invasion of Iraq. His methods were so destructive that even Al Zawhiri said that he was ruining the image of Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda is made up mostly of Shiite Muslims, who tend to be more fundamentalist in practice, and the Sunni Al Zarqawi's brutal targeting of Shiites created a real public relations problem for Al Qaeda. In June's Skywatch I wrote: Around June 8 we will begin experiencing the addition of the combustible energy of Mars to the tension of the Saturn/Chiron/Jupiter T-square when Mars approaches a conjunction with Saturn. The opposition of Saturn and Chiron applies a great deal of pressure to force the healing of issues that have been pushed underground, and Jupiter expands the emotions and encourages a sense of righteousness and superiority. Adding the impatience of Mars to the mix can force an eruption before the process of healing is truly ready, creating more pain than was possibly necessary for the process to take place. The death of Al Zarqawi at the hands of the Shiite-led fledgling Iraqi government may not do much to settle the situation in Iraq, which is fueled primarily from a long-standing enmity between the Shiites and Sunnis. The extent of his popularity is unknown, but the planetary environment with the introduction of Mars (god of war) to the Saturn/Chiron climate shows that his death is likely to ignite a firestorm of conflict between the Shias and Sunnis, forcing a recognition by the US and its few remaining allies that the true problems in Iraq are more complex than they would like to think. The Saturn/Chiron dance forces us to see the realities (Saturn) of a situation, no matter how painful (Chiron) it may become. Only time will tell, but sometimes a situation has to worsen before it can improve. In the best of all possible scenarios, the Sunnis in Iraq will have become exhausted after three years of fighting, and without a strong leader will lose their center and begin to lose interest in the battle. In the worst, the country will disintegrate deeper into civil war. Tuesday, June 06, 2006The Astrology of Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt Everyone is asking me to do the chart of this new life, and although I do have a fascination for celebrities and people in the news I am much less interested in the potentiality of a newborn child. It's the correlation between the actions of a celebrity and their planetary dynamics that hold the most interest for me. Why did Katie Holmes give up her life for Tom Cruise? What drives David Blaine to push the limits of human endurance? What makes Sharon Stone such a nut? These are the questions that wake me up early in the morning to write this blog. However, to satisfy the curiosity of my readers I'll delve briefly into the horoscope of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's new child, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt. The Celebrity Baby blog has a link to a birthchart by Helane Lipson that I believe is incorrect. First of all, the date of Shiloh's birth is somewhat confusing. Agence France-Presse has released a birth time of :40 AM GMT on May 28, most news reports give the date of May 27. Ms. Lipson's chart shows Sagittarius rising, but using the birthtime of :40 AM GMT (which is itself suspect since we don't know the source) we have a rising sign of the first degree of Aries. Because the rising sign changes degree every 4 minutes, the rising sign of baby Shiloh Nouvel could as easily be Pisces. I have found that birth times provided by hospitals are more likely to be late than early, since the time is recorded AFTER the birth, so the rising sign is more likely to be Pisces than Aries. However, it will be in the late degrees of Pisces which tends to bleed into the more assertive Aries, indicating someone who while sensitive, imaginative and flexible (Pisces) will seek to express her own will and live her own life. Her Moon is in Gemini (representing Angelina, who is also a Gemini), and is conjunct Mercury and in the third house. This is a triple significator that communication will be important to her and she will probably be a writer of some kind. She will want to accumulate as many experiences as possible (Gemini/third house) and will be very bright (Mercury in Gemini in the third house). She is also likely to move quite often with Gemini at the cusp of her fourth house, and like Angelina she will not want to be tied down. Uranus (radical change) is square (conflict) with her Moon/Mercury conjunction, showing that she may perceive Angelina (Moon/mother) as being unstable and undependable (Uranus). Uranus/Mercury people often have a unique style of learning, they almost seem to absorb information directly rather than study. Her chart shows Venus in Aries at the cusp of the second house of possessions, showing that she is independent (Aries) in relationships with others (Venus) and possesses a confident nature (Venus in the second house). She will also tend to love beautiful (Venus) things (second house) and attract (Venus) financial gain (second house). Venus in her chart trines transformative Pluto, adding a passionate streak to her nature that is not normally found in an Aries Venus. Her relationships will be intense, and she will be attracted to partners with power. Mars in her chart is exactly quincunx Pluto, showing that her drive (Mars) will be strong but she will be frustrated (Pluto) by her attempts to express it. The quincunx (50 degrees) and inconjunct (30 degrees) are considered "minor" aspects, but when they are exact on the degree can be extremely irritating. Unlike the conflict and tension of the squares and oppositions which eventually result in release and change, the quincunx and inconjunct are never fully expressed. The most difficult thing in Shiloh Nouvel's chart will be the configuration of the Saturn/Chiron opposition (of which you can read much more in other articles here) which is square to Jupiter. This T-square (the three planets form a "T") creates a tension between the three planets which are all in fixed signs, giving her a strength of character and personality but also causing her to be prone to outbursts until she is able to integrate the challenge of this configuration. Saturn in her chart is in Leo, showing that she is hindered (Saturn) from being able to fully express herself (Leo), which I believe will be somewhat mirrored in the Pisces/Aries ascendant. This will result in frustration for her which will force a crisis and eventual transformation and awakening of her inner strength. T-squares are difficult, especially in youth, but it is the difficult configurations that bring the most personal growth and self-awareness. The opposition of Chiron to this block to her self-expression will add a painful component there, and she may experience health issues as Chiron forces a continuous pressure on her to develop her sense of self (Leo/Aquarius). Both Saturn and Chiron are squared by Jupiter, which wants to break out and liberate her from this pressure. She is therefore likely to be rebellious and want to make her own way in life, which will facilitate the self-expression which is the key to her chart. Only time will tell how these signatures manifest; astrology is the study of potentialities and our free will determines the outcome of our lives. Forbes has an interesting video from Arch Crawford, another astrologer specializing in financial advice (although in his case he is more of a financial expert specializing in astrological advice). You'll notice if you watch the video (requires a highspeed connection) that he is careful to say he uses astronomy for his predictions, not astrology. Perhaps that's for the benefit of Forbes, who seems to take him very seriously. Evidently he has an excellent track record. He agrees that there are several indicators this year for market crash conditions, including a curious statement that the "eclipse dates" in the fall are the same as they were in 1987. He cites the eclipse date of September 22, which will be an annular solar eclipse at the new moon. I'm not sure what he means by the dates being the same - however, the market crash of 1987 followed the lunar eclipse on October 9 and preceded the full moon by a few days. Another interesting thing about the September 22 date is that Pluto (death and transformation) squares the solar eclipse, which is bound to be a VERY intense period. The final pass of the Jupiter/Saturn square occurs in mid-October, which I believe will mark the end of the bloodletting phase of the market. November shows 5 planets aligned in Scorpio, the sign associated with the market, and at that time investors may begin re-entering the market to pick up some good deals and thereby re-energize things(interesting choice of words since Mercury will be retrograde during that period as well). Monday, June 05, 2006More on Karl RoveRobert Wilkinson offers an in-depth analysis of Rove's chart. He goes into quite a bit of detail on Rove's transits over the next few months: Lots of legal activity in Karl's immediate future, due to begin this week and intensify the following week, when Mars conjuncts Saturn both in an exact opposition to his Mars beginning Monday June 12, culminating June 15-19. This conflict in his chart is compounded by Jupiter square his Mars all of June, July, and the first week of August, showing he has entered a very difficult time. Other concurrent influences in his immediate future include Mercury opposed his Venus-Mercury between June 11-15 and Venus in Taurus square his Pluto and quincunx his Neptune on June 13-15. (For my own more abbreviated analysis see the article below.) Fiery Mars entered fiery Leo yesterday and begins moving towards a conjunction with the cold reality of Saturn. Meanwhile, Saturn and Chiron (wounding and healing) are very close to their final conjunction in a series that began in 2003, and the expansive optimism of Jupiter gets crushed in their embrace this week. None of this is good news for financial markets which depend upon consumer confidence for growth. The stock and other financial markets are a great example of the way that positive thinking brings about good results - if consumer confidence is high they tend to buy more things, which generates more orders, which improves the bottom line, which makes the stock more attractive. Even without good "technicals," if a stock is going up it tends to become a more attractive investment to others, which is how the dot-com boom took over the markets in the late 1990s. The markets overall have seen a fairly steady increase with Jupiter (optimism and good fortune) in Scorpio (secrets and other people's money) since October 2005. Consumers are purchasing beyond their means, and piling up debt (also ruled by Scorpio) to do it. The second square between Jupiter (optimism) and Saturn (pessimism) is putting pressure on that confidence and could have a chilling effect on the markets. Even the emerging Asian markets, where stock prices were driven to unsustainable levels, are taking a hit. Henry Weingarten, noted financial astrologer, reports that there is a "93% certainty that the markets will be substantially lower than they are now." Weingarten recommends trading 50% of the portfolio rather than the old "buy and hold" strategy, and says to keep much of your portfolio in cash. The Jupiter/Saturn square is affecting the housing market as well, and higher interest rates will continue to flatten or depress home prices. Saturn, that old codger, is conservative and demands security. This is a time for saving rather than spending, and try to avoid the lure of those shiny new cars , diamonds and beach houses. There are enough stressful planetary configurations going on this year (through September/October) to indicate that unwise investment decisions could lead to trouble ahead. Sunday, June 04, 2006The True Meaning of 666? Elsa had a link the other day to a site called Astrococktail that has a great collection of news links with astrological connections. From that site I found a link to the works of Chrichton Miller, who speculates that the Celtic Cross was an instrument for astronomical calculation, and that the ancients knew the locations of many of the constellations by using the Celtic Cross. Miller claims that the constellation Draconis (the Dragon, or Serpent) lies above the latitude of 66.6 degrees. Astronomer David Pratt confirms this: "The north ecliptic pole lies in the constellation Draco, and has the equatorial coordinates 18h (270°) RA, +66.6° decl. " The word "Draco" is from the Greek draconis meaning "dragon," and the constellation is symbolized by a coiled serpent or dragon. I then found this interesting page, The Stars of Revelation, from which I quote the relevant passages of Revelation regarding the Dragon: [Rev 12:1-6] [A]nother portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth...Later, there is a war between Archangel Michael and the dragon: [Rev 12:7-9] Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.Later, in Rev 13:11-17, another beast appears that "spoke like a dragon." This beast "works great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men," and it's number is 666. Ancient cultures throughout the world have legends of serpent-like creatures that were revered and feared, representing wisdom, knowledge and power. The Aztec god Quetzalcoatl was known as the "feathered serpent," and in China, dragons are the most powerful and divine of creatures. Even the snake in the Garden of Eden was the monitor of the Tree of Wisdom. Surely the connection between the dragon, the number 666 and the constellation Draco at the 66.6 degree declination is more than a coincidence. Nowhere could I find a more reasonable explanation of this number "666." I have no idea what this means, but it's certainly worth pondering. Saturday, June 03, 2006Will Karl Rove ever be indicted? Rumors are swirling around Washington that Karl Rove has already been indicted, but Capitol Hill Blue reports that an investigator denies this claim. This report also says that prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has had Rove in his sights from the beginning of the investigation.The opposition of Saturn to Chiron that is about to make its final hit interacts closely with Rove's birthchart (take a look at this link to see more about Rove and how transits over the past year has helped to erode his power). Like Bush II, Rove's Mars makes no aspects to any other planets in the chart, causing him to operate as somewhat of a loose cannon - a general with no need for soldiers. This last Saturn/Chiron opposition will include a conjunction by Mars, increasing the intensity of confrontations and facilitating the eruption of suppression across the world. This configuration will make an exact square to Rove's Mars around June 17, and this will be an interesting date to watch. Rove has been undergoing a conjunction of transiting Pluto (death and rebirth) to Chiron (wounding and healing) in his chart since January, and he is undoubtedly experiencing a crisis on a more personal level as well. The second event of that transit coincides with the pressure of Mars/ Saturn/Chiron in square to his natal Mars and could create physical problems as well because of Chiron's tendency to create health disorders in order to get our attention. When Pluto in transit applies pressure on Chiron in the birthchart, it tends to bring up all kinds of emotional issues for the purpose of promoting healing and transformation. For someone like Karl Rove, whose life has been based on building power through questionable means, there is bound to be some repercussions during this time. Unfortunately, he is tremendously secretive and there is little information available on his personal life for us to learn from. In any event, this mid-June period is bound to create some events that will begin to free the country from his stranglehold. Friday, June 02, 2006Friday linksFor a preview of what's ahead in June, visit the latest Skywatch article that I just posted last night. And here are some links to other blogs you are sure to find interesting: Jeffrey offers up a smorgasbord of interesting articles from the transits of Lindsay Lohan to a fascinating link to Bill Streett's article on Pluto and the Galactic Center in the chart of Roman Polanski and other newsmakers. Nancy Waterman's political pages remind us of the final pass of Saturn over GW Bush's ascendant and the resulting firestorm of problems that continue to plague the president. Even more interesting than her articles are the comment pages which are full of great political insights and links. Collaborate with Fate has an interesting article on the meaning of the date 06-06-06 coming up this week. Jill speculates on the prospects of Jeb in 2008. Her political blog is the place to go for early information that proves that truth is stranger than fiction. One Good Move has great videos including Keith Olbermann trashing Bill O'Reilly and Stephen Colbert celebrating the birthday of Sigmund Freud, along with interesting links and other stuff. Thursday, June 01, 2006Eight Random Things About MeJill has tagged me for this game, and because she's my sister I can't ignore her so I'll go ahead and join in the fun. I generally find planetary information much more interesting than me, so I'll include a bit of my own astrology as well: 1. Once I figure out how to have the time, I'd like to be a foster mom and rehabilitate rescued golden retrievers (Venus and Mercury in the sixth house that of pets, work environment & health). 2. I am a workaholic (Mars in Capricorn and Saturn/Sun conjunction) and overachiever (ironic, since as a child I was considered an underachiever due to the Saturn/Sun insecurity). 3. My favorite thing to do in the world is dance (three planets in Libra in the 5th house). 4. I love hip hop. 5. I believe I have had past lives as a plantation mistress in North Carolina who was horrified with the plantation system, a happy peasant woman in Ireland who loved music and dance, and a monk in a fifth century monastery. 6. I think entirely too much about food and food trips (Mercury in the sixth house of the body/mind connection and Jupiter in the pleasure-seeking sign of Taurus). 7. My favorite foods are Mexican food and chocolate. 8. I thought I would hate getting older and losing my looks (three planets in Libra), but I actually really enjoy the freedom it gives me not to be vain. Tag, you're it: Jeffrey Jude Barbara Felicity Phel
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